WEBVTT 00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:00.640 Well, good morning. 00:00:00.719 --> 00:00:02.879 We're studying our way through the book of Ephesians. 00:00:02.959 --> 00:00:04.400 We're in chapter five today. 00:00:04.559 --> 00:00:08.080 And here's what we've been saying, just to review, in case you haven't been with us. 00:00:08.320 --> 00:00:16.320 The main point of Ephesians is what God has done for us in Christ, and how we should live in light has done for us in Christ. 00:00:16.719 --> 00:00:17.760 This is exactly that. 00:00:18.000 --> 00:00:22.000 Chapters 1 through 3, what God has done for us in Christ. 00:00:22.239 --> 00:00:26.800 Chapters 4 through 6 transition out of that, how we should live in light of it. 00:00:26.960 --> 00:00:36.960 And what we've been saying is that we live out the chapters 4 through 6, how we should live, in light of, and through chapters 1 through 3. 00:00:37.119 --> 00:00:40.000 Meaning, another review, this is what we've been saying. 00:00:40.320 --> 00:00:44.320 Our walk with Jesus is not for God's love. 00:00:44.479 --> 00:00:48.240 Our walk with Jesus is from God's love. 00:00:48.399 --> 00:01:08.719 Now, that distinction can take you from being a weary, condemned, self-righteous, judgmental, worn out, burned-out Christian, and it can transform you into being imperfect, but fully forgiven, fully righteous in Jesus, free and still growing and transforming. 00:01:08.959 --> 00:01:13.760 That distinction, am I living for God's love or from God's love? 00:01:14.239 --> 00:01:18.719 When our three girls were little, we had several mantras in our family. 00:01:19.040 --> 00:01:37.200 The one in the morning was we would drive them to school, and just before they got out of the car, we said this every morning, over and over, like 10 years of saying this over and over and over again, we would pray for them and then we would say, You are chosen, loved, forgiven, and never alone. 00:01:37.439 --> 00:01:40.079 You are chosen, loved, forgiven, and never alone. 00:01:40.239 --> 00:01:41.359 Right before they get out of the car. 00:01:41.519 --> 00:01:46.319 Every morning for 10 years, you are chosen, loved, forgiven, never alone. 00:01:46.480 --> 00:01:52.480 Now at night after dinner, we would have a little dance party or maybe a wrestling match or something. 00:01:52.560 --> 00:01:59.439 And then it was, you know, bath time, books, bed, young parents, you know, you know what I'm talking about. 00:01:59.519 --> 00:02:00.959 You're like, I know that routine. 00:02:01.200 --> 00:02:02.879 We did that for 10 years. 00:02:03.040 --> 00:02:08.879 And we would snuggle them into bed, and every night we would say, Who made you? 00:02:09.120 --> 00:02:10.960 And hopefully they would say, God. 00:02:11.520 --> 00:02:13.840 And then we'd say, What is God? 00:02:14.080 --> 00:02:15.759 And they would say, God is love. 00:02:15.919 --> 00:02:18.639 And then we would say, When does God love you? 00:02:18.800 --> 00:02:20.960 And they would say, All the time. 00:02:21.840 --> 00:02:27.919 Now, now they snuggle us into bed, and they're like, Dad, you know, who loves you, Dad? 00:02:28.240 --> 00:02:30.080 God, God loves me. 00:02:31.439 --> 00:02:33.199 Now, why did we do this? 00:02:33.439 --> 00:02:35.919 Well, because some things need to be repeated. 00:02:36.080 --> 00:02:40.479 Some things just need to be repeated over and over and over again. 00:02:40.800 --> 00:02:51.039 Paul spends three chapters rooting and resting us into Jesus' work for us before anything about us living for him. 00:02:51.599 --> 00:02:53.759 And then finally we get to chapter four. 00:02:53.919 --> 00:02:55.599 Okay, give me something to do. 00:02:55.759 --> 00:02:56.800 Like, how do I live? 00:02:56.960 --> 00:02:57.840 Tell me something. 00:02:58.080 --> 00:03:01.759 And even then, Paul keeps repeating himself. 00:03:02.159 --> 00:03:07.360 See, it is vital that we don't leave Jesus to go live for Jesus. 00:03:07.599 --> 00:03:11.199 And if you've been religious in your life, you know exactly what I'm talking about. 00:03:11.360 --> 00:03:16.879 It's very easy to leave Jesus to go and do all this stuff for Jesus. 00:03:18.240 --> 00:03:19.360 So, what does he repeat? 00:03:19.439 --> 00:03:22.000 Well, Ephesians 5, 1 and 2. 00:03:22.639 --> 00:03:27.759 Therefore, be imitators of God, okay, as beloved children. 00:03:28.000 --> 00:03:28.639 There it is. 00:03:28.879 --> 00:03:31.280 It's just like he's gotta say it over and over again. 00:03:31.360 --> 00:03:32.080 He's gonna say it. 00:03:32.159 --> 00:03:34.400 He's gonna root us in over and over again. 00:03:34.560 --> 00:03:39.759 Verse 2, and walk in love as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us. 00:03:40.240 --> 00:03:42.719 A fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 00:03:43.039 --> 00:03:48.639 Point number one is this we live the Christian walk through our identity in Jesus. 00:03:49.199 --> 00:03:53.280 Verse number one, this be imitators of God as beloved children. 00:03:53.680 --> 00:03:57.360 Paul reminds us who we are so that we might live a particular way. 00:03:57.520 --> 00:04:09.280 And he says, who you are, is you're not just a mom or a dad or husband or wife or even somebody's child or a particular student or some occupation, and you might be a big deal or a little deal or whatever. 00:04:09.439 --> 00:04:17.040 He's not you are at the core of who you are, you are a beloved son, you are a beloved daughter. 00:04:17.199 --> 00:04:23.519 You are already fully loved, fully delighted in, fully adored by God. 00:04:24.720 --> 00:04:30.879 Each evening, most evenings, my wife Christy and I will walk around Lewis Park, this park that's just right here. 00:04:31.439 --> 00:04:34.399 It's about a 25-minute loop for us from our house. 00:04:34.639 --> 00:04:36.720 And she likes to tell me things. 00:04:36.879 --> 00:04:39.040 She likes to tell me lots of things on this walk. 00:04:40.240 --> 00:04:41.120 It's been a day. 00:04:41.360 --> 00:04:44.160 She's worked, she's helped our girls out. 00:04:44.240 --> 00:04:47.680 Um, she has had thoughts and she has had feelings. 00:04:47.759 --> 00:04:55.199 Um, and she tells me about work, she tells me about her employees, she tells me who she needs to hire, she tells me about our girls and what's happened during the day. 00:04:55.360 --> 00:04:58.399 She gives me all the tea and the drama and the stories. 00:04:58.639 --> 00:05:00.240 She tells me lots of problems. 00:05:00.399 --> 00:05:02.399 Life has lots of problems. 00:05:02.639 --> 00:05:09.600 And what I've learned is, taking 21 years, most of the time she doesn't want me to fix anything, although that's the exact thing I want to do. 00:05:09.759 --> 00:05:12.240 I think I can really fix anybody's problem. 00:05:12.480 --> 00:05:14.160 She just wants me to listen. 00:05:14.319 --> 00:05:19.759 Most of the time, just walk, talk, listen to all these problems. 00:05:20.079 --> 00:05:34.160 Now imagine, just imagine, we're finishing dinner and we're doing the dishes, and I'm finishing up the dishes, and I turn to her and I say, hey, we really need to get that walk done because uh you're just gonna be you know upset if I don't do that with you. 00:05:35.120 --> 00:05:39.040 Like you're just gonna you're gonna be a bit of a pill if I don't, you know, check that off. 00:05:39.199 --> 00:05:41.759 So we need to go ahead and go ahead and clear that off. 00:05:42.240 --> 00:05:44.639 Well, we would get the same behavior, right? 00:05:45.120 --> 00:05:46.319 We would still walk together. 00:05:46.720 --> 00:05:50.079 She could still talk to me, walk all the way around the park, come home. 00:05:51.040 --> 00:05:52.639 But something would have changed. 00:05:53.040 --> 00:05:59.920 I mean, something really important would have changed when a motive moves from love to fear. 00:06:00.480 --> 00:06:05.360 I fear the relationship could be in jeopardy, so let's just go ahead and do that so I stay on your good side. 00:06:06.000 --> 00:06:11.680 As soon as fear and obligation begin, everything's sort of changed, it's different, it's not the same. 00:06:12.879 --> 00:06:23.439 And it begs the question is our walk with God from fear and obligation, or is our walk with God from love, from a position of being loved and loving? 00:06:24.000 --> 00:06:25.839 Because that's totally different. 00:06:26.240 --> 00:06:31.199 In verses one and two, Paul is saying over and over again, you are dearly loved. 00:06:31.279 --> 00:06:37.040 The motivation to be holy, to walk in godliness, is not fear and obligation, it's love. 00:06:37.279 --> 00:06:42.079 Paul roots our walk with Jesus and our identity as God's beloved children. 00:06:42.240 --> 00:06:44.800 We do not leave Jesus to go live for Jesus. 00:06:44.959 --> 00:06:50.879 In fact, we rest more into Jesus' goodness, so to live for Jesus. 00:06:51.199 --> 00:06:59.839 Point number two is this we continually return, it's a continual return to who Jesus is for us as we aim to live like Jesus. 00:07:00.000 --> 00:07:02.000 These two things are connected. 00:07:02.240 --> 00:07:07.759 Your justification as a Christian fuels your sanctification as a Christian. 00:07:07.920 --> 00:07:15.600 Your justification, who you are in Jesus, deemed by Jesus' gift alone, fuels how we live for him. 00:07:16.000 --> 00:07:21.600 This section actually breaks it down for us in verses three through seven, bad patterns to avoid. 00:07:21.680 --> 00:07:26.879 And then in verses eight through ten, new patterns for us to live out in our new identity. 00:07:27.279 --> 00:07:29.360 Look how Paul constructs the entire passage. 00:07:29.439 --> 00:07:35.519 If we think about it, verses one through two, our position with God as children and our call to walk in love. 00:07:35.680 --> 00:07:37.279 Okay, what does that mean? 00:07:37.519 --> 00:07:39.920 What does it mean for us to walk in love? 00:07:40.160 --> 00:07:43.759 And here's what he goes into, verses three through seven. 00:07:44.000 --> 00:07:52.319 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 00:07:52.560 --> 00:08:01.120 Let there be no filthiness, nor foolish talk, nor true joking which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. 00:08:01.439 --> 00:08:11.519 For you may be sure of this that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous, that is an idolater, has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 00:08:11.759 --> 00:08:18.079 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 00:08:18.240 --> 00:08:20.160 Therefore do not become partners with them. 00:08:20.399 --> 00:08:21.360 So let's break it down. 00:08:21.439 --> 00:08:22.399 First, verse five. 00:08:22.560 --> 00:08:24.800 Paul's not talking about believers who struggle. 00:08:24.959 --> 00:08:32.159 In verse five, he's talking about people who have given themselves over to vices, giving themselves over to sexual morality. 00:08:32.320 --> 00:08:34.320 It is their savior and deliverer. 00:08:34.480 --> 00:08:35.759 This is what they live for. 00:08:35.919 --> 00:08:40.480 And verse six then says, Paul is saying, a holy life matters. 00:08:40.799 --> 00:08:47.679 A sinful life is destructive to your heart, to other people, relationships, family, society, communities, church. 00:08:48.000 --> 00:08:49.120 A holy life matters. 00:08:49.200 --> 00:08:50.960 Now back to verse 3. 00:08:51.200 --> 00:08:51.919 Very clear. 00:08:52.080 --> 00:09:00.480 It's wrong to be consumed by sexual immorality and lust or coveting somebody else's body to get your own pleasure, selfish gain. 00:09:00.639 --> 00:09:03.600 In fact, good sex in marriage is actually the opposite of that. 00:09:03.919 --> 00:09:10.799 Good sex inside of marriage becomes about loving the other person for their pleasure. 00:09:11.279 --> 00:09:15.120 And the call here is not just to avoid certain acts. 00:09:15.200 --> 00:09:16.000 It's there. 00:09:16.240 --> 00:09:21.919 But the call is even to avoid thinking and talking wrongly about sex. 00:09:22.799 --> 00:09:28.320 And you go, great, well, how do I do that when my mind is like headed there or is there or stay there? 00:09:28.639 --> 00:09:32.240 Well, verse 4 says, thanksgiving is actually the answer. 00:09:32.639 --> 00:09:35.679 Paul says, try being thankful instead. 00:09:36.000 --> 00:09:45.519 Like, rather than just staring at a vice and saying no, turn your mind and heart and move it to a better promise. 00:09:46.399 --> 00:09:51.759 Turn your heart attention, your heart affection to being thankful. 00:09:51.919 --> 00:09:58.080 And Paul is not saying live purely so that you'll become saints. 00:09:58.320 --> 00:09:59.279 No, no, no, no. 00:09:59.360 --> 00:10:04.159 He's saying because you are saints, live purely. 00:10:04.320 --> 00:10:06.240 See, there's an order to grace. 00:10:06.399 --> 00:10:11.679 It's not obedience to Christ so that you might gain an identity in Christ. 00:10:11.919 --> 00:10:20.320 Rather, it's identity in Christ by grace so that you might live out obedience to Christ. 00:10:20.559 --> 00:10:22.000 Again, that's that distinction. 00:10:22.159 --> 00:10:27.279 That's the difference between being weary and condemned or being free and growing. 00:10:27.759 --> 00:10:34.399 We could say it this way: our moral life is the fruit of our justification and adoption. 00:10:34.559 --> 00:10:36.240 That's a very theological way to say it. 00:10:36.320 --> 00:10:37.360 Some of y'all love that. 00:10:37.519 --> 00:10:41.919 Our moral life is the fruit of our justification and adoption. 00:10:42.240 --> 00:10:47.120 We are living out who we already are in Christ. 00:10:47.600 --> 00:10:58.799 And that's why so often when we're living in a way contrary to God, in a sinful way, as we're doing it or just after, you think to yourself, this just isn't who I am. 00:11:00.159 --> 00:11:01.440 Because it's not. 00:11:01.840 --> 00:11:03.039 You are a different person. 00:11:03.120 --> 00:11:05.120 You're a new creation with a new way to live. 00:11:05.279 --> 00:11:06.399 Verses 8 and 9. 00:11:06.559 --> 00:11:11.039 For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. 00:11:11.360 --> 00:11:13.279 Walk as children of light. 00:11:13.600 --> 00:11:17.919 For the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true. 00:11:18.240 --> 00:11:22.240 Point number three is this you are completely holy in Jesus' work for you. 00:11:22.320 --> 00:11:26.879 So that's as to say, our sin is put upon the cross, so you're fully forgiven. 00:11:27.120 --> 00:11:30.960 Jesus' righteousness, his righteousness record is put upon you. 00:11:31.039 --> 00:11:32.240 It's not your record. 00:11:32.480 --> 00:11:34.240 So you are fully God's. 00:11:34.480 --> 00:11:37.519 You are holy in Jesus' work for you. 00:11:37.919 --> 00:11:44.399 Therefore, living holy is not about earning God's favor, but resting in the love already given to you. 00:11:45.120 --> 00:11:50.240 Paul says that the source of power comes from remembering who you are. 00:11:50.480 --> 00:11:52.879 Verse 1, dearly loved children. 00:11:53.039 --> 00:11:55.519 Verse 8, you are light in the Lord. 00:11:55.759 --> 00:12:00.639 So walk in that identity, so walk in that light. 00:12:00.879 --> 00:12:01.840 Now, verse 10. 00:12:02.000 --> 00:12:04.080 And try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 00:12:04.240 --> 00:12:08.799 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 00:12:09.039 --> 00:12:12.879 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 00:12:13.039 --> 00:12:16.240 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible. 00:12:16.399 --> 00:12:24.480 For anything that becomes visible is light, therefore it says, Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. 00:12:25.120 --> 00:12:28.960 So we ask God, please show me the ways I'm believing lies. 00:12:29.120 --> 00:12:32.159 We don't just get a behavior, a sinful behavior. 00:12:32.320 --> 00:12:33.600 It comes from a lie. 00:12:33.759 --> 00:12:35.039 We believe a lie. 00:12:35.440 --> 00:12:36.799 This will give me whatever. 00:12:36.960 --> 00:12:37.919 This will make me fulfill. 00:12:38.159 --> 00:12:39.200 This will make me feel whole. 00:12:39.279 --> 00:12:40.399 This will make me feel important. 00:12:40.559 --> 00:12:41.440 There's the lie. 00:12:41.600 --> 00:12:43.120 Now out of that comes the behavior. 00:12:43.200 --> 00:12:44.960 We call that the sin under the sin. 00:12:45.120 --> 00:12:55.279 And so we say to God, God, help me understand the darkness that is in me, the lies I'm believing, shine light on it for me. 00:12:56.240 --> 00:13:03.120 And all the while, in all of that, we're living out that walk, that Christian walk in grace. 00:13:03.600 --> 00:13:06.159 That we're fully forgiven, fully righteous, fully his. 00:13:06.720 --> 00:13:07.279 Free. 00:13:11.200 --> 00:13:13.440 We're free to do whatever we want. 00:13:14.639 --> 00:13:15.679 So, what does that mean? 00:13:15.919 --> 00:13:20.879 Well, it means our hearts should be healing and transformed and want to walk with Jesus. 00:13:21.039 --> 00:13:25.039 In Galatians, Paul actually elaborates on this freedom and how it works in us. 00:13:25.440 --> 00:13:27.600 Galatians 5, 13 and 14. 00:13:28.320 --> 00:13:35.279 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free, but do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh. 00:13:35.600 --> 00:13:37.919 Rather, serve one another humbly in love. 00:13:38.159 --> 00:13:42.720 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command. 00:13:42.879 --> 00:13:44.799 Love your neighbor as yourself. 00:13:45.120 --> 00:13:51.279 Point number four is this in gospel freedom, our walk with Jesus is expressed in love for people. 00:13:52.000 --> 00:13:55.200 That's because we're being freed from our own self. 00:13:56.000 --> 00:14:10.720 We're being freed from our life, just being inwardly bent upon ourselves that everything is about us gaining pleasure or feeling more important or feeling more loved or more accepted because we actually believe that in Jesus we already are important. 00:14:11.279 --> 00:14:14.399 Already loved, already accepted. 00:14:15.120 --> 00:14:17.279 So we're getting over ourselves. 00:14:17.759 --> 00:14:22.879 And we can begin to see other people and actually care for them and love for them and be for them. 00:14:25.360 --> 00:14:27.279 Do you remember the show Downton Abbey? 00:14:27.759 --> 00:14:28.320 It's been a while. 00:14:28.559 --> 00:14:32.240 Season two, that's even longer, maybe 10 years ago or so. 00:14:32.559 --> 00:14:36.240 And William was the sweet second fort footman. 00:14:36.320 --> 00:14:38.000 He was like the second, he was under Thomas. 00:14:38.159 --> 00:14:44.480 You remember Thomas was like the head servant, and then William was under Thomas, and William loved Daisy. 00:14:44.559 --> 00:14:45.759 That's William and Daisy. 00:14:45.919 --> 00:14:47.600 William loved Daisy. 00:14:47.759 --> 00:14:54.720 But Thomas, a little bit better looking, better positioned in the house, Thomas loved to flirt with Daisy to his own entertainment. 00:14:54.799 --> 00:14:55.600 He didn't really like her. 00:14:55.679 --> 00:14:57.440 He just liked to flirt with her and lead her on. 00:14:57.519 --> 00:14:59.679 And William just had to watch this. 00:15:00.480 --> 00:15:06.080 Now, before William goes off to war, Daisy realizes that William loves her. 00:15:06.639 --> 00:15:08.320 Then William goes off to war. 00:15:08.399 --> 00:15:18.240 He gets wounded, he comes back to see Daisy, and she doesn't really love him romantically, but out of kindness, she marries him as he's dying. 00:15:18.480 --> 00:15:20.159 Now that's a lot of soap opera. 00:15:20.240 --> 00:15:21.519 It was an emotional journey. 00:15:21.600 --> 00:15:22.960 It was a lot for us. 00:15:23.200 --> 00:15:26.639 Those of you that went through it, we went through a lot, it was a lot. 00:15:26.960 --> 00:15:29.440 Okay, then there's William's dad, Mr. 00:15:29.679 --> 00:15:30.320 Mason. 00:15:30.879 --> 00:15:31.360 And Mr. 00:15:31.519 --> 00:15:35.919 Mason owns a farm, and he wants Daisy to come visit him. 00:15:36.159 --> 00:15:38.000 And it's the last thing she wants to do. 00:15:38.159 --> 00:15:40.080 This whole marriage thing felt a little awkward. 00:15:40.159 --> 00:15:41.039 She did it for William. 00:15:41.120 --> 00:15:42.159 She did it out of kindness. 00:15:42.240 --> 00:15:45.039 She didn't romantically love him like William loved her. 00:15:45.200 --> 00:15:46.720 She doesn't want to go see Mr. 00:15:46.799 --> 00:15:47.279 Mason. 00:15:47.360 --> 00:15:48.799 Finally, she's like, I just gotta go. 00:15:48.879 --> 00:15:49.840 I just gotta get it out of the way. 00:15:49.919 --> 00:15:50.720 I gotta be done with this. 00:15:50.799 --> 00:15:51.919 She visits the farm. 00:15:52.080 --> 00:15:54.799 Here's the conversation we get. 00:15:56.240 --> 00:15:59.279 Daisy says she shouldn't have gone to all this trouble. 00:15:59.519 --> 00:16:00.559 Not for me. 00:16:00.799 --> 00:16:02.080 I don't deserve it. 00:16:02.240 --> 00:16:05.440 Not when I was only married to William for a few hours. 00:16:06.080 --> 00:16:06.399 Mr. 00:16:06.480 --> 00:16:13.200 Mason says, You may not know this, Daisy, but William had three brothers and a sister, all dead at birth or not long after. 00:16:13.360 --> 00:16:17.600 I think that's one reason why William married you, so that I would not be alone. 00:16:17.919 --> 00:16:20.639 Without you, I'd have no one to pray for. 00:16:20.879 --> 00:16:22.639 I think William knew that. 00:16:22.879 --> 00:16:24.720 So will you be my daughter? 00:16:25.039 --> 00:16:27.120 Let me take you into my heart. 00:16:27.440 --> 00:16:28.799 Make you special. 00:16:29.519 --> 00:16:31.200 You'll have parents of your own, of course. 00:16:31.279 --> 00:16:33.679 And then she interrupts him and she says, I haven't got any parents. 00:16:33.919 --> 00:16:34.879 Not like that. 00:16:35.440 --> 00:16:37.679 I've never been special to anyone. 00:16:38.879 --> 00:16:39.120 Mr. 00:16:39.200 --> 00:16:40.960 Mason says, Except William. 00:16:41.279 --> 00:16:42.559 And she says, That's right. 00:16:42.720 --> 00:16:45.519 I was only ever special to William. 00:16:46.080 --> 00:16:48.320 Never thought of it like that before. 00:16:48.799 --> 00:16:51.759 And then he says to her, Well, now you're special to me. 00:16:53.120 --> 00:16:56.799 Daisy's done everything to put Mr. 00:16:56.960 --> 00:16:57.919 Mason off. 00:16:58.639 --> 00:17:02.559 She has gone out of her way to push him away. 00:17:02.799 --> 00:17:11.279 She's clung to the belief that you can't receive love from someone unless your love is equally back to them, which just isn't true. 00:17:11.440 --> 00:17:14.640 Especially isn't true when it comes to relationship with God. 00:17:14.799 --> 00:17:18.799 Because he loves us like a perfect father, perfect love. 00:17:18.960 --> 00:17:21.920 And we love him like imperfect children. 00:17:22.559 --> 00:17:26.240 See, for Daisy, love is this for that, sort of a circle. 00:17:26.319 --> 00:17:27.759 Like you do this and I do that. 00:17:27.920 --> 00:17:29.039 You do this and I do that. 00:17:29.119 --> 00:17:31.039 Like I'm gonna earn it and you give it back. 00:17:31.200 --> 00:17:32.240 But love doesn't work like that. 00:17:32.480 --> 00:17:33.279 That's not how love works. 00:17:33.440 --> 00:17:39.920 Love is much more the fire hydrant of one way love to you. 00:17:40.799 --> 00:17:42.000 And this is how Mr. 00:17:42.240 --> 00:17:44.400 Mason is relating to Daisy. 00:17:44.720 --> 00:17:45.519 One way. 00:17:45.759 --> 00:17:49.920 He's not loving her based on her love for him. 00:17:50.480 --> 00:17:55.680 He's loving her based on his son's love for her and his love for her. 00:17:56.720 --> 00:17:57.039 Right? 00:17:57.200 --> 00:17:59.039 He loves her like William loved her. 00:17:59.200 --> 00:18:02.079 He loves her like William adored her. 00:18:02.319 --> 00:18:05.039 I mean, what an amazing picture of the gospel. 00:18:05.359 --> 00:18:16.240 That God does not relate to us based on our feelings or our record or resume or our passion or even our obedience. 00:18:16.559 --> 00:18:20.960 Because it's not based on our love for him, it's based on his love for us. 00:18:21.680 --> 00:18:27.440 And Paul says this secure identity, but I just said all of that gives you such security with God. 00:18:27.759 --> 00:18:28.720 Secure identity. 00:18:28.880 --> 00:18:36.960 This secure identity as his beloved son, as his beloved daughter, that is the fuel of walking with him. 00:18:37.599 --> 00:18:42.640 It's the fuel to say no to the bad patterns and to say yes to the good patterns. 00:18:43.440 --> 00:18:50.799 Being deemed holy by Jesus, by grace alone, is the actual fuel for living holy with Jesus. 00:18:51.279 --> 00:18:52.160 Let's pray together. 00:18:52.960 --> 00:18:54.160 Heavenly Father, thank you. 00:18:54.319 --> 00:19:03.680 Thank you so much that you don't just tell us how to live, but you call us your own before we earned it. 00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:11.119 Through the gift of your son, through your love to us, you call us as a beloved son, beloved daughter. 00:19:11.359 --> 00:19:14.319 And we are this apart from our record or resume. 00:19:15.839 --> 00:19:21.279 And then thank you that the way in which we walk with you is fueled by this secure identity, by your grace alone. 00:19:21.440 --> 00:19:27.839 Help us to rest and see and gaze and behold all the more how precious Jesus is for us. 00:19:28.079 --> 00:19:29.039 In Christ's name.